On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 02:14:35 GMT, "Neil Gould"
wrote in
: :

I just wonder *where* these things might be operated. Certainly not down
any city street or through any neighborhood?

I know what you mean. And I think you've touched on the cause of
their delayed development: a narrow range mission goals.

I have read that a primary mission goal would be for rescue of
personnel from sky scraper windows where the rotor disk of helos
complicates getting close enough for success. I'm not sure that would
be a viable mission either given the likelihood the down wash would
possibly suck out the glass facade.

The military funded some SoloTech research, so I would expect that the
concept of zooming soldiers around the battlefield or over mine fields
and water has some merit.

The lack of suitable missions, other than sheer joy of operation,
seems to be a significant hurdle.